Controlling means for spot lamps



Feb. `24, 1931. E. G. K.v ANDERSON coNTRoLLING MEANS Fon sPoT LAMPS Filed April 12, 1929 WAV Patented Feb. 24,1931

UNITED STATES PATENTf. OFFICE ERNST G'. K. ANDERSON, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO APPLETON ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS CONTROLLING MEANS FOR SPOT LAMPS Application led April 12,

The present invention relates to that type of spotlight mounting in which the lamp is mounted 0n one end of a horizontal tubular shaft rotatable about its long axis; there being means extending through the shaft for turning the lamp about an axis at right angles to the axis of the shaft; and the shaft being rotated and the actuating means extending through the same being operated from a single radial handle. The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve devices of this kind.

In the devices under consideration, the end of the shaft or stem is provided with a head serving as a housing for gear mechanism and, from which the operating handle extends. Viewed in one of its aspects, the present invention may-be said to have for its object to improve and simplify the head construction.

A switch must be provided to turn the current for the lamp otf and on and, viewed in another of its aspects, the present invention may be said to have for its object a simple and novel switch construction mounted on the device close to the operating handle so that the lamp may be mechanically operated and the switch be turned on or ofll with a single hand and without removing the hand from the handle.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side view of so much of a spot lamp mounting as liesv inwardly from the post on which the structure is ordinarily mounted, showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a section taken on a plane containing the long axis of the stem; Fig. 3

1929. Serial No. 354,515.

is a top plan view of the head portion of the device, parts being broken away and a por, tion being a section taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a section taken approximately on line 4--4 of Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a section taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a tubular shaft or stem adapted to extend through and be rotatably mounted in the corner post of an automobile body, or otherwise. The present invention is not concerned with the lamp structure and the means for supporting it on the stem, outwardly from the post. At the rear end of the stem is a head from which radiates the actuating handle. The head is made separate from the stem and it is detachably connected thereto. In the arrangement shown, the head structure cornrises a long metal sleeve 2 surrounded by insulating material permanent-ly united therewith by being molded thereon. In practice I use bakelite although any other suitable insulating material may be used instead. The insulating material, which may be termed the head proper, is in the form of a ball-like structure or knob 3 at the rear end of the sleeve; there being a sleeve-like extension 4 extending inwardly from the knob along the sleeve, but terminating at a considerable distancefromtheinnerendofthelatter. Thefree inner end of the sleeve is externally screwthreaded, as indicated at 5, and it is split longitudinally, conveniently along two diametrically opposed lines. The extreme inner end of the sleeve is made frusto-conical, as indicated at 6. One or more projections are formed on the inner side of the free portion of the sleeve; there being two such projections, as best indicated at 7 7 in Fig. 5. The tubular stem is provided with depressions in its periphery, as indicated at 8, 8 in Fig. 5; these depressions being adapted to be brought into registration with the projections on the sleeve. Surrounding the divided screwthreaded end ot the sleeve is an internally screwthreaded annulus or nut 9. It will be seen that it a tapered thread is employed and the parts are properly proportioned, the screwing of the nut upon the sleeve, while the internal projections in the latter register with the depressions or holes in the stem, will cause the sleeve to be clamped tightly around the stem and the projections to be forced into the depressions in the stem, locking the stem and the sleeve securely together. '1` he annulus or nut may be provided at its rear end with an internal flange l() having on the inner side a wedge tace 11 adapted to engage with the conical end ot the sleeve; thus inaking it possible to contract the sleeve, When the nut is screwed home, regardless of the contracting action of the threads themselves.

There is a hole extending through the head, that is the knob 3, and the sleeve, at right angles to the long axis of the sleeve. 'Ihe operating handle. indicated at 12, has a part extending through and j ournaled in this hole. In the arrangement shown,` the journal member of the handle is in the form of an axially-elongated pinion 11 tixed at one end to the handle. On the tree end ot the pinion is a head 15 that may conveniently be a large head on the end ot a small screw screwed into the end of the pinion. It will be seen that the sleeve is provided, in line with the hole in which the pinion 1-1 is to pass, with diametrically opposed external tubular projections 16 and 17 whose internal diameter is considerably greater than the external diameter ot the pinion. The tubular extension 16, on the underside, forms a socket to receive a hublike portion 1S on the handle at the inner end or base of the pinion. The upper tubular part forms a socket tor a small compression spring 19 that surrounds the pinion underneath the head l5. In assembling the parts the spring is placed in position under an initial compression, so as to hold the hub 18 in its seat initially and after wear takes place. Cooperating with the pinion are two racks 2O and 21 lying on opposite sides thereof, each rack being carried on the end of the rod, as indicated at 22 and Q3 extending through the tubular stem to the lamp.

In one side otl the head is a socket Q5 in which is placed a switch for controlling the lighting circuit. Lying at the bottom or the socket, partly embedded in the insulation, is a metal pla-'e Z6 that forms the stationary contact of the switch. Extending out through the socket, at right angles to the long axis of the head. is a post 27. Both the stationary Contact and the post are assembled in the structure by the operation ot molding the insulating material about the sleeves. In order to provide the post with a firm support, I form in the lsleeve 2 a hole 28 considerably larger in diameter than the inner end of the post, into which the inner end ot the posll extends. lVhen the insulation is molded about the sleeve it enters the hole 28 and thus aliords a long bearing tor supporting the post. rIhe stationary Contact plate 26 has a hole 29 ot' larger diameter than '-.he post, through which the post passes, and consequently the stationary contact and the post are not electrically connected. Cooperating with the socket to produce a closed switch chamber is a meal casing 30 that may conveniently be in the 'form ot a little box open on the inner side and fitting into the socket. The post passes through the box which is locked in place by means ot` a nut 3l screwed upon the outer end ot' Lhe post. Mounted on the casing within the switch chamber is a movable switch contact that is conveniently in the form ot' a spring plate 32 riveted at one end to the casing, as indicated at 33 and overlying but normally out ot' engagement with the stationary contact. l A tmger piece or operating lever 3l, lyingz outwardly trom the movable contac", and partly within the casing and partly without, is pivoted to the casing between its ends, as indicated at 35. lllhen the ouer end ot' the. linger piece is down, as indicated in the drawing, the switch is open. lVhen the linger picco is swung up through an angle of about ninety degrees, the inner end thereot presses the movable contact over un1 il it is in engagement with the stationary Contact. T he part-s are so proportioned that the switch will remain in each of its two positions until it is intentionally moved into the other position. The parts are also so proportioned and positioned that the linger piece lies just above the handle l2, so as to be wi-.hin reach of the thumb or finger on a hand grasping the handle.

There are two wires connected with the switch. One of the wires, suitably sheathed with insulating material as indicated at 40, ex ends lengthwise through the tubular stem and out through a slot l1 in the head portion; this wire being electrically connected to the casing by means ot a screw l2. The other wire, 43. enters the casing through the inner end of the la' ter and is soldered to or otherwise electrically connected with the stationary contact 26.

The tubular stem passes through a metal plate L15 adapled to be fixed on the inner side ot the corner post ot' a vehicle body and provided with an annular flange 1G fitting around and making good contact with the stem. One of the lines 17, leading from the source ot` elecric energy, is connected to the plate 45; whereas the other line '-18 is connected to a collector ring 19 mounted in a block 50 ot' insulating material fixed to the plate The center ot' the ring 19 is at the long axis ot the stem. The wire 4-3 terminates in a suitable brush 51 held on the stem by means of a suitable clamp 52. Consequently, when the stem is turned, the brush remains in contact with the collector ring, so that the circuit at this point remains uninterrupted regardless of the angular position of the shaft. Assuming that one terminal of the lamp is connected to the wire 40 and that the other terminal is grounded on the tubular stem, a circuit for the lamp may be traced from the source of electrical energy, not shown, and passing through the switch.

lVhile I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come Within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, an operating member for a lamp, a head of insulating material molded upon the end of said member, said head having a socket in one side, and a switch mounted in said socket.

2. In a device of the character described, an operating member for a lamp, a head of insulating material molded upon the end of said member, a handle radiating from said head, said head having a socket in the side adjacent to the inner end of the said handle, a switch in said socket, and a linger piece on said switch in position to be engaged by a hand grasping the handle.

3. In a device of the character described, an operating member for a lamp, a head of insulating material molded upon the end of said member, said head having a socket in one side, a. post fixed in the insulating material and extending out through said socket, a detachable switch casing resting in the socket, said casing having a hole to permit the passage of said post, and means cooperating with the post to hold the casing in place.

el. In a device of the character described, an operating member for a lamp, a head of insulating material having an exterior socket in one side molded upon said member, a post rising through the socket and a stationary switch contact in the bottom of the socket molded into the head, a casing held by said post in the socket, and a movable switch contact mounted on the casing in operative relation to the contact on the head.

5. In a device of the character described, a lamp-operating stem, a head of insulating material molded upon one end of the stem, a handle extending radially from said head, said head having a socket in the side near the handle, a switch device mounted in said socket` and a switch operating member in position to be operated by a digit on a hand grasping said handle.

6. In a device of the character described, a lamp-operating stem, a head upon one end of the stem, a handle extending radially from said head, said head having a socket in the side near the handle, a switch device mounted in said socket, and a switch operating member in position to be operated by a digit on a hand grasping said handle.

7. In a device of the character described, a metal sleeve, a surrounding head of insulating material molded upon the sleeve, there being an opening extending transversely through the head and the sleeve, a handle, and a part on the handle extending through and j ournalled in said opening.

8. In a device of the character described, a metal sleeve, a head of insulating material molded upon the sleeve, said sleeve extending beyond the insulating material at one end, a stem extending into said end of the sleeve, means cooperating with said end of the sleeve to fasten the stem and the sleeve together, there being an opening extending transversely through the head and the sleeve,

'and a handle having a part extending! through and rotatable in said opening.

9. In a device of the character described, a metal sleeve externally screwthreaded and split at one end, a head of insulating material molded on the sleeve beyond the split portion, a stem member litting into the split end of the sleeve, and an annular internally screwthreaded member cooperating With the screwthreaded part ofthe sleeve to clamp the sleeve about the stem member.

l0. In a device of the character described, a metal sleeve externally screwthreaded and split at one end, a head of insulating material molded on the sleeve beyond the Split portion, a stem member fitting into the split end of the sleeve, an annular internally screwthreaded member cooperating with the screwthreaded part of the sleeve to clamp the sleeve about the stem member, there being a hole extending transversely through the head and sleeve, and an operating handle having a part extending into and journalled in said hole.

ll. In a device of the character described, a metal sleeve externally screwthreaded and split at one end, a head of insulating material molded on the sleeve beyond t-he split portion, a stem member fitting in the split end of the sleeve, said stem member having a depression in the periphery and the sleeve having an internal projection registering with the said depression, and an annular internally screwthreaded member cooperating with the screwthreaded part of the sleeve to clamp the sleeve about the st-em member, and force the projection in the sleeve into the depression in the stem.

12. In a device of the character described, a lamp-operating stem, a head of insulating material fixed on one end of the stem, a handle` extending from t-he head radially of the stem., said head having a socket in the side near said handle, a stationary contact piece and a post out of contact with each other fixed to the head in the socket, a switch casing forming with the socket a, chamber, the switch casing being out of contact with the stationary Contact piece and having a hole to receive the post, means cooperating with the post to hold the casing on the head, a movable contact in said chamber in operative relation to the stationary contact piece, and an actuator for the movable Contact extending to the exterior ofthe casing.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

E. G. K. ANDERSON. 

